Mortimer H. Neufville, a former vice president with a national group of public universities, was appointed Wednesday. He will take over on Jan. 23, a day after Reginald S. Avery is scheduled to step down.

Avery, president for four years, announced last month that he will leave. Avery received a vote of no confidence from faculty and staff in February. They cited faculty turnover and poor budget management.

Neufville most recently served as interim president of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, where he worked for 15 years. He is a former executive vice president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

Coppin State, one of Maryland's four historically black colleges, has about 3,900 students.